Hanoi to Hue

Travelling by air from Hanoi to Hue takes only about an hour and is the fastest travel option available between the two cities. 

There are 7 direct flights everyday leaving Hanoi to Hue provided by four different airlines.The airports in both the cities are easily accessible. You can hire a taxi or Grab Car or arrange for an airport transfer from your hotel and reach the Noi Bai airport. A similar transfer can be arranged for when you alight at the Phu Bai airport in Hue. The flights are quite comfortable as well.

VietJet Air is the most sustainable choice among the various airlines with respect to ticket prices. If you plan your trip and book your tickets well in advance, you can get the air tickets at cheaper rates. Tickets however tend to be very expensive during the holidays. The flight tickets from Hanoi to Hue can cost anything between VND 630,000 and VND 2,000,000.

The train journey from Hanoi to Hue takes about 12 hours and 30 minutes. Train journeys are recommended only if you are on a budget or have a lot of time in hand. It is best if you take the overnight train as you save up on the daylight hours which can otherwise be utilised for sight-seeing or other fun activities.

The railway station in Hue is a 10 minute taxi ride or a 30 minute walk from the Hue city centre. The cost of the train tickets start at around VND 720,000 but the sleeper berths are slightly more expensive at VND 840,000. There are two night trains namely SE1 and SE19 which depart Hanoi at 10:10 pm and 8 pm respectively. There are several day trains as well but they are definitely not worth the time.

If you love travelling in a luxury train, you can opt for the Lotus Express. It departs 8:10 pm from Hanoi and reaches Hue 9:30 am thus taking about 13 hours. This company receives excellent reviews and you can expect a spick and span ambience with great wi-fi, comfortable beds and helpful staff. It is like a little hotel room on the railway track. The Lotus Express is priced at VND 1,230,000 per person.

This is the cheapest travel option from Hanoi to Hue. Just like the train, the bus journey takes about 12 hours and 30 minutes and it is best to travel overnight than during the day so you can save up on a night’s accommodation and also not waste your daylight time. There are about four bus tour operators.

The bus tickets can easily be bought online or can be bought at the bus station as well. The buses leave exactly on time, so make sure that you are at the bus stand at least 15 minutes before the time of departure. Most buses are comfortable with some having sleeper berths as well. The tickets for the bus journey from Hanoi to Hue can cost anything between VND 360,000 and VND 790,000 depending on the comfort level.